The attacker was a white man, around 5ft 9in, about 30, with short dark hair.

He wore a purple/blue T-shirt, white and blue Hawaiian style beach shorts and dark trainers with black socks. He carried a dark rucksack with an orange Adidas logo.

Detective Constable Joe Todd, from Coatbridge CID, said: “We know from the CCTV footage we have analysed that the suspect was standing around in the area prior to the failed robbery.

“The streets were busy at the time of the incident, so it is possible that the public encountered the suspect on Main Street or West Burnside Street prior to the incident on Backbrae Street at around 1625 hours.